Horbat Suf, Development Survey along the Route of the National Gas Pipeline

Mordechai Haiman and Leticia Barda

11/09/2006

From January to March 2002 a development survey was conducted along the planned route of the national gas pipeline (License No. G-7/2002). The survey, on behalf of the Antiquities Authority, was directed by M. Haiman, L. Barda (the survey map), N. Negev and H. Khalaily.

The surveyed route extended from the Nesher cement plant in Ramla to Dimona, with two branches toward Ashdod and Ashqelon.

Some one hundred sites were recorded, the following are noteworthy:

4 – Map ref. NIG 18871/64377; OIG 13871/14377. A scattering of potsherds and tesserae from the Byzantine period in an aqueduct segment.7 – Map ref. NIG 18464/63556; OIG 13464/13556. A dense scatter of potsherds from the Byzantine period over an extensive area.14-15 – Map ref. NIG 18333/62940; OIG 13333/12940. Remains of a pottery workshop from the Byzantine period, including a dense scattering of potsherds, slag and stones.16 – Map ref. NIG 18318/62818; OIG 13318/12818. A dense scattering of potsherds from the Byzantine and Early Islamic periods, at the end of Khirbat al-Tina.19 – Map ref. NIG 18305/62761; OIG 13305/12761. A prehistoric site from the Lower Paleolithic period, which contained a dense scattering of flint implements spread across a gently sloping hill.24-26 – Map ref. NIG 17807–58/61810–74; OIG 12807–58/11810–74. A scattering of stones on surface and potsherds, dating to the Roman and Byzantine periods, on the fringes of Tel Gishron.29 – Map ref. NIG 17629/61469; OIG 12629/11469. A scattering of potsherds, dating to the Roman, Byzantine and Early Islamic periods.39-41 – Map ref. NIG 17669–99/60793–878; OIG 12669–99/10793–878. A scattering of potsherds and tesserae from the Byzantine period on a hilltop.45-46 – Map ref. NIG 17734–49/60061–88; OIG 12734–49/10061–88. Horbat Suf––a dense scattering of potsherds from the Byzantine period, large white tesserae and building stones.48-51 – Map ref. NIG 17322–47/58835–88; OIG 12322–47/08835–88. A scattering of potsherds from the Byzantine period and a rock-hewn cistern (Site 50), within Horbat Ma’aravim.58-63 – Map ref. NIG 17326–423/58000–32; OIG 12326–423/08000–32. A concentration of water cisterns, cairns and potsherds from the Byzantine period.64-69 – Map ref. NIG 16825–78/57994–8015; OIG 11825–78/07994–8015. Building and wall remains, a rock-hewn water cistern, a built well and a dense scattering of potsherds that mostly dated to the Byzantine period were recorded in the middle of a ruin (Be’er Halmut).70-74 – Map ref. NIG 16131–217/57450–507; OIG 11131–217/07450–507. Horbat Hasif––remains of a cemetery, two hewn water cisterns with circular apertures, a few flint implements and a dense scattering of potsherds from the Byzantine and Early Islamic periods.78 – Map ref. NIG 15611/56938; OIG 10611/06938. A dense concentration of flint implements and potsherds from the Chalcolithic period.79-80 – Map ref. NIG 17759–80/06918–57; OIG 12759–80/06918–57. Remains of a farmhouse, walls and potsherds, dating to the Byzantine period.93 – Map ref. NIG 20252/55085; OIG 15252/05085. Building stones and potsherds from the Roman and Byzantine periods within a large ruin.